Leisure Wheels 4×4 Safaris’ Big Five to Big Blue trip is one of the favourites on the calendar each year. To accommodate the demand, we are presenting this trip twice a year. The diversity of this Safari through five African counties is something special. The itinerary combines the world-renowned Big 5 reserves like Chobe in Botswana and South Luangwa in Zambia with the blue waters of Lake Malawi, the Cahorra Bassa dam and the Bararuto Archipelago in Mozambique.
BIG FIVE TO BIG BLUE SAFARI
DAY O – 26 MAY & 10 OCT
Meet and Greet
André Van Vuuren from Explore Africa Adventures – a fully qualified safari guide will meet you at Sebe Sebe on the banks of the Limpopo River. Here you will stay in chalets, which is included in the cost of the safari. The convoy will leave for Kasane (800km) and stay over at the Chobe Safari Lodge the following.
DAY 1 – 2: 27-28 MAY & 11-12 OCT 2013
Chobe Safari Lodge
Today will be spent in the Chobe National Park. The Chobe National Park is famous for its abundance of elephants, the highest concentration to be found anywhere in Africa.
The Chobe National Park is also famous for its huge herds of buffalo, rich bird life and exquisite sunset boat cruises; this is definitely a wildlife experience not to be missed. Everybody will do a morning game drive in their vehicles and a three hour sunset boat cruise as a group. We will spend the night again in our camp at Chobe Safari Lodge.
DAY 3: 29 May & 13 Oct 2013
Zambezi Bushfront
Leave early morning via the ferry at Kazangula for Livingstone where you will camp at the Zambezi Bushfront. You will visit the world-renowned Victoria Falls (on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe) from the Zambian side. The Victoria Falls is approximately 1690m wide and varies in height from 62m (Devil’s Cataract) to 109m (Eastern Cataract). In comparison the Niagra falls, which is 968m wide and on average 54m high.
DAY 4 – 5: 30-31 MAY & 14-15 OCT 2013
Lusaka & Chipata
It is a 500km drive from Livingstone to Lusaka where the group will camp at Eureka Farm for the night. From Lusaka you drive on the Great East Road to Chipata where you will spend the night with Wynand and Andréa Breytenbach at Mama Rula’s.
DAY 6 – 8: 1-3 JUNE & 16-18 OCT 2013
South Luangwa
We leave early morning on a half day’s drive to South Luangwa National Park for the next three nights. We will pitch camp at Track and Trail River Camp on the banks of the Luangwa River and spend our days game viewing in the park.
DAY 9: 4 JUNE & 19 OCT 2013
Mama Rula’s
Back to Chipata where you will camp again at Mama Rula’s.
DAY 10 – 11: 5-6 JUNE & 20-21 OCT 2013
Cape MacLear
You will cross the border into Malawi and exchange money and stock up with provisions at Seven Eleven in Lilongwe before driving through to Cape McClear on the southern tip of Lake Malawi. Here you will spend the next two days at leisure. Lake Malawi is 365km long and 52km wide and the south is probably the most popular tourist destination.
DAY 12: 7 JUNE & 22 OCT 2013
Cahorra Bassa
The convoy will leave early morning and travel via Zobue border post to the Cahorra Bassa Dam where we will pitch camp at Ugezi Tiger Lodge. The best option is to have dinner and breakfast in their restaurant. The bream is to die for and bills are payable in S.A. Rands.
DAY 13: 8 JUNE & 23 OCT 2013
Chimoio
After breakfast the group leaves for Chimoio. It is a distance of 400 kilometers and the road has been completely rebuilt. You will spend the night camping at Casa Msika on the shore of Lake Chicamba.
DAY 14 – 15: 9 – 10 JUNE & 24-25 OCT 2013
Vilanculos
Vilanculos is on the menu for the day. So you will travel to the Bazaruto Archipelago where you will camp right on the beach for the next two nights. It is a lovely campsite walking distance from a beach pub/restaurant overlooking the Archipelago.
DAY 16: 11 JUNE & 26 OCT 2013
Bush Camp
The convoy will drive in a westerly direction towards the Kruger National Park. It is a sand road that winds through villages and the most beautiful forests. You will camp wild in the Mpai area nearby the Limpopo River.
DAY 17: 12 JUNE & 27 OCT 2013
Pafuri
The group will do a river crossing through the Limpopo River and travel via Pafuri where you will enter South Africa. This is the end of the safari and everybody will head back home. We suggest that you book accommodation at Punda Maria or Shingwetsi for that night.
COST
The cost will be R 8500 per person, but is subject to change if any of the service providers increase their prices.
The cost will include and exclude the following:
Included:
- Guide fee
- Park entry fees
- All camping fees
- Boat cruise on Chobe River
Excluded:
- Road tax
- Third Party Insurance
- Carbon Tax
- Camping Equipment, Fuel, Food and beverage
- All additional optionals and activities
- Park entry fees for Chobe Nat. Park
- Park entry fee for South Luangwa on Day 2
- Ferry Fees
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What is the maximum amount of vehicles on this tour?
7 – 8
Can I go in a 4×4 Caravan?
Yes
Can I take my 4×4 trailer?
Yes
Does the trip start and finish at the same place?
The trip ends at Pafuri Gate in the Kruger National Park
Where does the trip start?
The trip starts at Sebe Sebe
Recommended sleep-overs close to the starting point and finishing point:
Starting point: Kwanokeng Lodge
Finishing point: Punda Maria Camp or Shingwetsi
Is it a malaria area?
Yes
Can children go on this tour?
Yes
What is the cut-off age for seniors?
This depends on their state of health and physical fitness
Any other notes on this specific tour:
We send out a “Tour Leaders Letter” with all relevant information once the deposit is paid.
For more information or to book for this trip, send a mail to [email protected]
